Building Non UK fighters in the UK

Who would he have matched up against though? The most attractive option (BJS) was and is with Warren. While I'd have loved him to base himself over here, it can't have been as lucrative as the Canelo fights, even if he wouldn't have been as badly cheated.

 

The Sky commentary team clearly don't want him to do well which is funny in regards to this thread as Johnny Nelson etc. certainly don't help the cause in terms of promoting overseas fighters in the UK with their negative commentary towards guys like Yeleussinov when there is no reason to criticise in the first place which will get into the heads of many fans.

 

Which part isn't true? Massive stadium fights are limited elsewhere - the last USA one I remember is Pacquiao against Margo or perhaps Clottey. Outside of that you have Jeff Horn in Aus, but where else? Middle East?

They have been proven to be easy to make in the UK, with 7 football stadium fights in recent years.

 

The 60 to 100k part is absolute nonsense. Outside of AJ nobody is doing those numbers. It's not easy to make a stadium fight and sell it out.

 

Decent fighter , massive at the weight , let down by a lack of athleticism as he got older.

 

Groves v Froch, Calzaghe & Hatton have all cleared 50K in the past 10 years.

The point I'm making is that its more likely over here than it is abroad to fight in front of those crowds. Floyd, Pacman and others could have drawn them crowds but because of the money in Vegas they simply don't. Over here it's a no brainer to put a big fight in a stadium.

 

over 10 years ago now, time flies!

 

Just checked the dates!!! Wow.

 

Surely a foreign heavyweight could be built here. The casuals love heavyweights.

Majidov and Mihai Nistor both have wins over Joshua in the amateurs for example. Yet both haven't turned pro because of where they are from. Both are punchers that could be fast tracked. I'm sure Hearn could build them here using their wins over Joshua in the amateurs to boost their profile. Plus in Nistors case theres plenty of Romanians living in England that would support him.

 

what a coincidence LOL , After just posting that I go to the general forum and see that Filip Hrgovic has signed with Hearn.

 

Really depends on the fighter. If you don't have the home following then you need other things going for you, be that charisma, an exciting (high KO %) style, looking the part, being a heavyweight, etc. as well as being promoted well. I don't see Yeleussenov doing it for those reasons (and all the top welters are in America) but Usyk definitely could.

 

Yeah I think you've got to be a big puncher. Yeleussinov has feathers for fists. Hearn should've signed the Kazakh heavyweight Ivan Dychko instead.

 

Really intrigued to see what Hearn does with him

Might just finish Price off for good lol

 

Personally I wouldn’t cross the road to watch Yeleussinov I respect him for being a gold medalist but can’t see him being box office outside of Kazakhstan!

 

With Fury and Wilder both potentially off the table for the foreseeable future, they're probably looking at Hrgovic as a possible future opponent for Joshua they can build up and give exposure. Joshua's going to need opponents to fight if it's not Fury or Wilder. Old timers like Ortiz and Pulev are going to have a limited shelf life. Especially old Ortiz who looks like he might not even make it through another winter. We need some of the new breed to step up and become serious challengers. I hope Usyk continues his form into the Heavyweights and him vs Joshua comes to fruition. If Joyce keeps winning he'll be knocking on Joshua's door as well.

For the record, I still want to see Joshua fight Fury or Wilder more than anybody else, but I think there's a good chance that doesn't happen any time soon, so there will need to be plan Bs for Joshua.